Related Stories

The event — which provides free legal advice and assistance for filling out the multiple pages of citizenship application paperwork — is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. today at HCC's southeast campus, 6815 Rustic Road, and its southwest campus, 5601 West Loop South.

Approximately 100 volunteers, ranging from translators to legal assistants to immigration lawyers, will be on hand at each campus, said Jay Aiyer, chairman of the board for HCC and an immigration lawyer with Tindall & Foster, P.C.

"During that time frame we can work with 400 to 500 people, just at one campus," Aiyer said. "People line up outdoors as early as 4 or 5 a.m."

Those who want to file for U.S. citizenship must bring proof of permanent residency. In most cases, those people have to have been permanent residents for at least five years, he said.

"Citizenship is not a guarantee," Aiyer said. "You can't have committed crimes, you have to demonstrate high moral character, you have to pass a citizenship exam and demonstrate a certain level of English proficiency."

In addition to filling out an eight- to 10-page citizenship application, applicants must pay a $400 Immigration and Naturalization Service fee, via cashier's check, before the application packet is mailed off, Aiyer said.

The event is targeted to people of all ethnic backgrounds, but Diane Olmos Guzman, an HCC board trustee for District 3, expects it will draw a large number of people from the Hispanic community.

"It's incumbent upon a community college to be here for the community and provide services the community needs," said Guzman, who added that more than 90 percent of the people living in her southeast Houston district are Hispanic.

"Permanent residents have to go through a lot to become citizens, and we want to make it a little bit easier for them."